City finds a Christmas tree

Hey there, time traveller!This article was published 1/11/2013 (1385 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A 35-year-old, 12 metre-high Colorado Blue Spruce, donated by the Guy Sever family at 506 Stalker Bay, will be this year's citizen-donated Christmas tree at City Hall.

The tree will arrive at City Hall on Sunday between 11 a.m. and 12 noon.

GOOGLE MAPS 2013

'We are looking forward to visiting City Hall and being able to say ‘That’s our tree!’ ' Sever says.

A crew from the city's urban forestry branch will decorate the tree with over 9,000 multi-coloured LED lights. The ceremonial lighting of the tree will be Nov. 15.

"I’ve been thinking about donating the tree for a couple years because it has grown to cover nearly half of our front yard," said Sever in a statement. "It is such a large tree and really part of the neighbourhood, so I also wanted to ask how my neighbours and daughters felt about having it removed. Everyone was very excited to know that it could be the City Hall Christmas tree and supported the decision to submit it for consideration this year. We are looking forward to visiting City Hall and being able to say ‘That’s our tree!’"

The tree, which has a trunk diametre of 45 centimetres at its base, was chosen from 270 candidates. The city had sent out a news release asking Winnipeggers to submit trees for consideration after all the trees the city had inspected to that point were considered unsuitable.

"This is a really beautiful tree," said Martha Barwinsky, city forester, said in a media release. "It is one of the bluest ones we’ve had at City Hall in recent memory. This tree is going to look wonderful when lit up."

The tree will be cut down on Sunday starting at 9 a.m. and lifted by crane onto a flatbed truck, before being transported to City Hall where it will be positioned by crane.

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